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September, Healthy Aging Month

    Every year, thousands of senior citizens suffer falls at home. Many are seriously injured and some are disabled. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in recent years, approximately 27,000 people over 65 died due to falls; 2.8 million were treated in emergency rooms for injuries related to the fall, such as fractures, and head injuries, and approximately 800,000 of these patients were subsequently hospitalized. Frequently, these falls are caused by risks that can easily be corrected.

    Certain modifications in the home will allow them to be more accessible, safe and healthy for all ages and especially for the elderly.

    This list will help you identify and correct some of the risks that may be present in your home & help prevent critical elements that can cause falls at home:

    • Make sure floors are level and do not have detached transition moldings.
    • Remove area rugs or use a tape with adhesive on both sides or with Non-slip reverse to prevent slipping.
    • Roll up or glue the cords and cables to the base of the wall so you don’t trip over them.
    • Move furniture from the circulation (walking) area.
    • Remove everything that is lying on the floor leaving it clear.
    • Repair loose or uneven steps.
    • Install a light on the stairs to have enough lighting.
    • Make sure the carpet is firmly attached to each step or remove the carpet and stick non-slip rubber strips on the steps.
    • Secure loose handrails or install new handrails on both sides of the stairs and make sure  they extend all along them.
    • Place a non-slip rubber mat or self-adhesive strips in the bathtub or shower floor.
    • Install enough clear lighting throughout the house, especially at the entrance.
    • Change all round door handles to the style of lever handles.
    • Install sensor light in the room and bathroom areas.
    • Consider a universal design. Universal design has been defined as building environments that are accessible by anyone regardless of their physical limitations or disabilities. 
    • Replace the bathtub with a walk-in shower, which provides much easier (and safer) entry and exit than a bathtub.
    • Install bars to stand in the shower and near the toilet.
    • Replace standard toilet for a raised toilet seat to make it easier for aging adults to go to the bathroom independently.
    • Incorporate shower chairs. Using a shower chair or bath chair helps to increase safety by decreasing the chance of you falling by providing a secure area in a slippery shower or bath.

    During this month of September, dedicated to healthy aging, we must raise awareness of the importance of creating healthy and safe environments not only for our elderly family, but also for all occupants.

    For more information or adaptation of your property with a Universal design, please send an email to info@HHDCgreen.com.

    By: Maria M Hernandez

    Specialist in Eco-friendly, universal, efficient and healthy buildings

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    HEALTHY HOME, HEALTHY LIVING!

    The message “danger radon” written on a yellow stripe – concept image

    As we welcome 2016 with New Year resolutions for a healthier living, let’s not forget that our health could be impacted by the indoor quality of our homes. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average person spends 90 percent of their time indoors, so it is very important to test for pollutants that could be releasing gases or particles into the air causing indoor air quality problems and risking your health. January is also a month of action across the country to increase awareness of Radon, promoting testing and mitigation as well as the implementation of radon-resistant new construction practices to prevent thousands of lung cancer deaths caused by Radon exposure. Let’s join the effort; I invite you to add a New Year resolution to your list by testing your home for Radon, to ensure the safety and health of your loves ones.

    WHAT IS RADON?

    Radon is a potential health hazard, cancer-causing, radioactive gas. You can’t see it, smell it or taste it; it is an invisible killer that could be present in your home. This radioactive gas comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation and also through the water supply.

    RADON HEALTH RISK

    Radon gas decays into radioactive particles that can get trapped in your lungs when you breathe. As they break down further, these particles release small bursts of energy. This can damage lung tissue and lead to lung cancer over the course of your lifetime. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Overall, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, responsible for about 21,000 deaths every year.

    RESOLVE TO TEST

    Data collected by the EPA indicates that 1 in 5 Florida residences have elevated radon levels. The only way to know the levels in your home is by testing. This process is easy, inexpensive and should only take a few minutes and you can do it yourself. The Florida Department of Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommend

    all homeowners to test their homes for radon. There are two kits available: short (2 to 90 days) and long-term (more than 90 days) available through the mail and in hardware stores. EPA recommends taking the short test first, if your result is 4 pCi/L or higher, takes the long-term test or a second short-term test. You can also hire a trained contractor to do the testing for you.

    FIX AND SAVE LIFE

    If you find high concentration of Radon, you should fix the problem immediately to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure to their family. Radon mitigation requires technical knowledge and special skills to achieve the maximum indoor air quality and performance. Selecting the best approach depends on the design of your home and other factors. In South Florida, most of radon mitigation is performed by a fixed rate of mechanical ventilation. Some of this mitigation doesn’t address problems associated with high indoor humidity, mold, or health consequences. I highly recommend hiring a qualified Green Building Contractor to help you pick the right treatment method based on building science and moisture management technology.

    SELLING OR BUYING YOUR HOME?

    If you are selling a home that already has a radon reduction system installed, make sure you inform your potential buyers about the system’s operation and maintenance. If you are buying an existing house, remember to request the radon test and if you are looking to build or buy a new house, I highly recommend buying a house approved with radon- resistant features or certified under the programs: LEED, FGBC, ENERGY STAR, and Indoor airPLUS. New homes should include radon-resistant features, which are especially important in areas reporting elevated radon levels. For more information, visit: www.epa.

    gov/radon or contact the Florida Department of Health Radon Hotline at 1-800-543-8279.

    By Maria M. Hernandez

    Ciudad Weston Newspaper

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    CLIMATE CHANGE: BUILDING OPPORTUNITY

    Transformation of the gray, polluted town to a green, eco-friendly city with wind turbines and trees.

    We end 2015 with optimism for the future! In a historical moment, one that can define the future of the planet and humankind, the whole world witnessed the negotiations on climate change in Paris. The future looks promising and healthier, thanks to the treaty made by world leaders at the 21st conference of the United Nations, COP21, where they agreed to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, thereby holding the increase in average temperature to well below 2°C which will reduce the risk and impact of climate change. The fate of our planet and humanity is already in the political framework. Now is the time to respond to the urgency to make a positive lasting impact.

     

    UNDERSTANDING THE URGENCY:

    To unlock the opportunities of the 21st century economy, we must understand the urgency and challenges we are facing today. All the sectors present challenges, but the construction industry is one of the sectors with the greatest negative impact on Climate Change, which in turn contributes to large economic losses due to extreme weather events.

    Globally, buildings are responsible for over 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which would double by 2050, if we take no action to correct it. In the USA, more than 40% of the total consumption of energy is consumed in the residential and commercial buildings. But at the same time, these buildings have a great potential for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions which represents a great opportunity.

    BUILDING’S HIDDEN VALUE:

    Most buildings in the USA have been built without considering the impact of energy use on the environment. As many as  72% of the buildings constructed in the USA are completely outdated and inefficient. As a consequence, we waste billions of dollars in energy, causing a tremendous burden on the environment and climate change. By transforming these buildings into high-performance ones, their owners would benefit from the hidden value of its assets.

    The Rockefeller Foundation and Deutsche Bank Climate Change Advisers found that improving the efficiency of those buildings just by 30% with an initial investment of only $279 billion dollars would result in $1 trillion dollars of energy savings over 10 years, yielding a return on investment of 358% in a decade.

    GREEN BUILDINGS:

    After the meeting in Paris, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) will commit to scaling green buildings to more than 5 billion square feet (478 million square meters) over the next five years through the LEED and EDGE green building rating systems. It is predicted that by 2018, the construction of Green Buildings will represent a positive impact.

    2016 TIME TO LEAD!

    With the recent international agreement on Climate Change (COP21), the timing could not be better to aspire and commit ourselves to a sustainable new year to ensure the success and well-being of humanity. Climate change is the challenge of the 21st century but also the greatest opportunity for the global low-carbon Economy that will pave the way to the renewable energies and new efficient technologies.

    For consultation about building transformation, Corporate Social Responsibility, LEED Certification, please send an email to: floridaleedap@gmail.com .

    By Maria M. Hernández, LEED AP ID +C

    Ciudad Weston Newspaper

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